A US Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher aircraft (VS-62 USN/1) located the crash-diving U-176, dipped her wings and dropped smoke floats to mark the spot for the Cuban patrol craft CS 13 which then approached and dropped a pattern of three depth charges resulting in four explosions on the submerged U-boat.

Wolfpack operations

Attacks on this boat and other events

25 Aug 1942After a successful attack on convoy ONS 122, the surfaced boat sighted HMS Viscount and at 02.12 hrs fired a stern torpedo, which missed astern because it was a surface runner. The destroyer then dropped five depth charges on the diving U-boat, none of which caused any damage. While turning for another attack, HMS Viscount sighted U-605 and left to pursue her. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-176)

25 Aug 1942At 06.13 hrs, U-176 encountered HMS Viscount astern of convoy ONS 122 in thick fog. The destroyer was searching for another U-boat they had attacked earlier, and investigated a radar contact by firing a star shell. On sighting U-176 on the surface nearby, Viscount opened fire with the 20mm AA guns, but they could not be depressed enough. The U-boat crash-dived at a steep angle of more than 45° to a depth of 120m (394 ft). The destroyer dropped five depth charges, which caused only minor damage, before losing Asdic contact, and returned to the convoy on sighting oil on the surface after sweeping the area for 20 minutes. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-176)

17 Dec 194217.42 hrs, off Recife, Brazil: an unidentified Catalina flying boat dropped three bombs on the boat as she dived, forcing her to the surface, where she was strafed before diving again. Battery damage limited the ability to dive, so U-176 withdrew from the area out to sea to make repairs, which took two days. (Sources: Ritschel)